The Pubs of Cork: Iconic Cork city bar has been in same family since 1859

Pa Johnson’s bar is a huge part of Barry Johnson’s life.

The pub on Devonshire Street, Cork city, has been in his family’s hands for 167 years - and he even met the woman who became his wife there.

“The pub has been in the family since its establishment in 1859, the year after Murphy’s Brewery was established, 1858,” says Barry, who was a well-known athlete in cross-country and long distance at St Finbarr’s Club back in the day. “Pa Johnson’s is the oldest family-run bar in Cork.”

Barry has a claim to fame.

“Rory Gallagher was in my class in the North Mon,” he says.

What was Rory like?

“He was very unassuming,” says Barry of the iconic Corkman who made his mark in the world of the blues and rock music.

“Mossie Keane was another nice man who often stopped by for a drink here when he headed into town,” says Barry, of football legend turned pundit Roy’s father.

“He was just like Roy, and he had a great sense of humour.”

Barry, who lived here, worked here, and took over the pub from his dad, Pa, didn’t always stay put in the charming pub on the corner.

“I was at the Munich Olympics in 1972,” says Barry. “I booked ahead and the tickets for the Games were quite affordable back then.”

The Olympics were marred by an attack by a Palestinian terrorist group. That must have been scary?

“It was chaos,” says Barry. “I only found out about it that evening. There were no athletic events that day and I was staying miles outside Munich.”

The Moscow Olympics in 1980 were memorable too for Barry.

“That was a great experience,” he says. “Although that was also the year the Americans boycotted the Games.”

Barry knows a lot of Irish athletes.

“Eamon Coughlan was often in here,” he says. “And John Walker, the New Zealand middle-distance runner who won the gold medal in the 1500m event at the 1976 Olympics was in here too.”

Did Walker enjoy the ambience, the lively group of locals, the lively music sessions, and the stream of conversation in Pa Johnson’s that flows faster than the drinks?

“To be honest, he was a bit on the dry side!” says Barry. “I always remember his long blonde hair.”

But John Walker never left his hair down?

“Never!” says Barry laughing.

The great and the good often frequented Pa Johnson’s which has always been a popular neighbourhood favourite.

“Seamus Heaney was here,” says Barry, adding: “This was always a bar known for music. The Dixies had their office around the corner. Joe Mac and Brendan O’Brien of Little Arrows fame often struck up a tune here. As you can see, we have a photograph of Joe Mac up on the wall near the bar counter.”

Barry, well used to travel, toured with The Dixies in the USA when he was in his 30s.

“I had a ball,” he says. “We went to New York and Philadelphia, Boston and Chicago.”

Nearer home, Barry found love.

“I met Mary here. She was training to be a nurse in the North Infirmary. The nurses, and the consultants socialised here. The dental hospital students were always in and out.”

“She’d come in when she was off duty,” says Barry of his future wife. “The place used to be buzzing.” What were the popular drinks to order back in the day?

“Vodka was always popular,” says Barry. “And lager and lime. No one drinks that now.”

Athletes still frequent Johnson’s after race events. “The Leevale lads were great cráic,” says Barry. “They always enjoyed a singsong.”

They were always welcome.

“Leevale Club was a rival to St Finbarr’s,” says Barry. “That never mattered. We all enjoyed a good night out.”

What does Barry, who is a long time in the pub business now, like about the trade?

“I love the chat,” he says. “I enjoy talking to the locals and to the people coming in after an evening at the Cat Club next door.”

He wasn’t always able to enjoy the chat.

“At Holy Hour, we’d have to close in the afternoon,” recalls Barry. “If there were matches on TV, I’d close the door for one hour and then let people in again!”

Barry is part of a city business community.

“Lower John Street with all the little shops, was known as ‘Little Baghdad’,” he says. “There were lots of businesses there, like Natt Ross and Whitakers Hatcheries. We had a lot of custom from John Street. People die off and it is hard to replace them.”

It would be hard to replace Barry, who is so interested in people and in his surroundings.

“The pub is a great interest for me,” says Barry. “I have no notion yet of retiring! But there comes a time when I have to think about it.”

He has a right-hand man.

“Ray is with me 12 years now,” says Barry.

The music sessions in Pa Johnson’s are a mainstay.

“Twenty years, and they are still going,” says Barry.

His good memory is still going strong too.

“I remember when the Cavern Club opened on Leitrim Street in 1966. The band that played there, The Watts, all in their 70s now.”

Barry likes to keeps up friendships.

“I have some good mates, and we go out for lunch on our birthdays,” he says. “We are out now this coming Wednesday.”

Barry, who has ran a sound public house for decades, can only recall once ever someone being out of order.

“A guy got locked into the gents loo after closing time! I got a call from the guards, and I had to come and let him out!”

There may be fewer pubs now than there used to, but the culture remains strong in Cork city.

“There is always room for a pub,” says Barry.

“It’s where people meet and chat and make connections.”

Just like Barry does.